(1194 to 1253) Virgin, co-foundress with SaintFrancis of Assisi of the Poor Clares, born Assisi, Italy; died there. A daughter of Blessed Ortolana, and endowed from early childhood with the rarest virtues, she was won over by Saint Francis to the service of Christ, pronouncing her vows, 1212, despite the opposition of her father. She lived in retirement with the Benedictine nuns of San Paolo, but fled from there to Sant’ Angelo in Panzo to escape the persistent efforts of her family to make her abandon her vocation. After some time Saint Francis brought her with her sister, SaintAgnes, and other companions to Assisi, where they took up residence in a small house adjoining the chapel of San Damiano, which became the first establishment of the order. SaintFrancis appointed Clare superioress of this convent, 1215, and she ruled until her death. She observed the strictest poverty and austerity, declining the offer of PopeGregory IX to mitigate the rule. During her life the order spread throughout Europe; her mother, her aunt, Bianca, and a younger sister, Beatrix, joined her. When the soldiers of Frederick II, devastating the valley of Spoleto in 1234, attacked the convent of San Damiano, Clare held a ciborium before them and they retreated; for this reason she is usually represented in art holding a ciborium. Patroness against sore eyes. Emblem: a monstrance. Relics at Assisi. Canonized, 1255. Feast, Roman Calendar, 12 August.